The present invention provides a method for establishing fixation during computerized visual field perimetry, requiring the subject to verbally identify the symbol employed as fixation targets as they each appear. Speech recognition techniques are then employed to evaluate the subject's response, and, upon correctly identifying the fixation symbol, a visual test stimulus is displayed at a predetermined location within the subject's field of vision. Fixation is established by displaying to the subject fixation targets represented by varying symbols, which may be displayed at one or more locations on a display monitor. These so-called fixation symbols, include geometrical shapes, letters, numbers, pictures or other symbols readily identifiable by the subject. When a fixation symbol appears, the subject verbally identifies the symbol by saying the name of the symbol into a microphone. Using speech recognition, the system recognizes the response from the subject, and evaluates whether the symbol was correctly identified by the subject. Upon being correctly identified, the fixation symbol disappears, and a flashing visual test stimulus is displayed within the subject's field of view for a preset time.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for establishing fixation in a visual field perimeter, comprising the steps of: displaying to a subject a fixation target using a predetermined symbol; inputting the subject's verbal identification of what the predetermined symbol is that is displayed as the fixation target; evaluating the verbal identification of the predetermined symbol made by the subject using speech recognition; and upon the subject correctly identifying what the predetermined symbol is that is displayed as the fixation target, displaying a visual test stimulus to the subject at a predetermined location within the subject's field of vision.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of evaluating the verbal identification of the visual test stimulus made by the subject using speech recognition.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of repeatedly carrying out the steps above for different predetermined symbols.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of repeatedly carrying out the steps above while relocating the predetermined symbol to a new location.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the fixation target is a stationary target.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of moving the fixation target within the field of vision of the subject.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the visual test stimulus is displayed shortly after the subject correctly identifies the predetermined symbol.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined symbol is a geometrical shape, letter, number, picture, or image that is readily identifiable by the subject.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of recording whether the subject observes the visual test stimulus.
10. The method claim 1 further comprising the step of varying the size, shape, intensity, contrast, frequency and/or color of the visual test stimulus.
11. A method for establishing fixation in a visual field perimeter, comprising the steps of: displaying to a subject a fixation target using a first symbol; moving the fixation target along a first direction within the subject's field of vision; changing the direction of movement of said fixation target from said first direction to a second direction; inputting the subject's verbal indication of the direction when the fixation target changes direction from said first to said second direction; evaluating the subject's verbal indication using speech recognition that the fixation target changed direction; and upon the subject correctly indicating when the fixation target changes direction from said first to said second direction, displaying a visual test stimulus to the subject at a predetermined location within the subject's field of vision.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of evaluating the verbal identification of the visual test stimulus made by the subject using speech recognition.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of repeatedly carrying out the steps above with the fixation target changed from said first symbol to a second symbol.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of repeatedly carrying out the steps above while relocating the fixation target to a new location.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the visual test stimulus is displayed to the subject shortly after the subject correctly indicates when the fixation target changes direction from said first to said second direction.
16. The method of claim 11 wherein said first symbol is a geometrical shape, letter, number, picture, or image that is readily identifiable by the subject.
17. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of recording whether the subject observes the visual test stimulus.
18. The method claim 11 further comprising the step of varying the size, shape, intensity, contrast, frequency and/or color of the visual test stimulus.
19. A method for establishing fixation in a visual field perimeter, comprising the steps of: displaying to a subject a fixation target using a first symbol; moving the fixation target within the field of vision of the subject; changing the appearance of the fixation target from said first symbol to a second symbol; inputting the subject's verbal indication that the fixation target changed from said first to said second symbol; evaluating the subject's verbal indication using speech recognition that the fixation target changed from said first to said second symbol; and upon the subject correctly indicating when the fixation target changed from said first to said second symbol, displaying a visual test stimulus to the subject at a predetermined location within the subject's field of vision.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of evaluating the verbal identification of the visual test stimulus made by the subject using speech recognition.
21. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of repeatedly carrying out the steps above while relocating the fixation target to a new location.
22. The method of claim 19 wherein the visual test stimulus is displayed to the subject shortly after the subject correctly indicates when the fixation target changes from said first to said second symbol.
23. The method of claim 19 wherein said first and second symbols are geometrical shapes, letters, numbers, pictures, or images that are readily identifiable by the subject.
24. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of recording whether the subject observes the visual test stimulus.
25. The method claim 16 further comprising the step of varying the size, shape, intensity, contrast, frequency and/or color of the visual test stimulus.
26. A visual field perimeter comprising a means for establishing fixation, said means for establishing fixation including: a display monitor; means for displaying on said display monitor a fixation target to a subject using a first symbol; means for inputting the subject's verbal identification of said first symbol; speech recognition means for evaluating the subject's verbal identification of what the first symbol is that is displayed as the fixation target; and responsive to the subject correctly identifying what the first symbol is that is displayed as the fixation target, means for displaying a visual test stimulus to the subject at a predetermined location within the subject's field of vision.
27. The visual field perimeter of claim 26 further comprising means for evaluating the verbal identification of the visual test stimulus made by the subject using speech recognition.
28. The visual field perimeter of claim 26 further comprising means for changing the fixation target from said first symbol to a second symbol.
29. The visual field perimeter of claim 26 further comprising means for relocating the fixation target to a new location.
30. The visual field perimeter of claim 26 further comprising means for recording whether the subject observes the visual test stimulus.
31. The visual field perimeter of claim 26 wherein said means for recording includes voice recognition techniques for evaluating the subject's verbal response in indicating whether the visual test stimulus is observed.
32. The visual field perimeter of claim 26 wherein the fixation target is a stationary target.
33. The visual field perimeter of claim 26 further comprising means for moving the fixation target within the field of vision of the subject.
34. The visual field perimeter of claim 26 further comprising means for changing the direction of the fixation target.
35. The visual field perimeter of claim 26 wherein the visual test stimulus is displayed to the subject shortly after the subject correctly identifies the predetermined symbol.
36. The visual field perimeter of claim 26 wherein the predetermined symbol is a geometrical shape, letter, number, picture, or image that is readily identifiable by the subject.
37. The visual field perimeter of claim 26 further comprising means for varying the size, shape, intensity, contrast, frequency and/or color of the visual test stimulus.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
October 9, 2001
December 26, 2006
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